Diana Palmer - Heart of Stone

has a gift for telling the most sensual tales with charm and humor. With over forty million copies of her books in print, Diana Palmer is one of North Americas most beloved authors and considered one of the top ten romance authors in the U.S.

Dianas hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music. She has been married to James Kyle for over twenty-five years, and they have one son.

To my sister, Dannis Spaeth Cole,
and my niece, Maggie, in Cuthbert, Georgia,
and to my other niece Amanda Hofstetter,
in Portland, Oregon. Love you all.

K eely Welsh felt his presence before she looked up and saw him. It had been that way from the day she met Boone Sinclair, her best friends eldest brother. The man wasnt movie-star handsome or gregarious. He was a recluse, a loner who hardly ever smiled, who intimidated people simply by walking into a room. For some unknown reason, Keely always knew when he was around, even if she didnt see him.

He was tall and slender, but he had powerful legs and big hands and feet. There were rumors about him that grew more exaggerated with the telling. Hed been in Special Forces overseas five years earlier. Hed saved his unit from certain destruction. Hed won medals. Hed had lunch with the president at the White House. Hed taken a cruise with a world-famous author. Hed almost married a European princess. And on and on and on.

Nobody knew the truth. Well, maybe Winona and Clark Sinclair did. Winnie and Clark and Boone were closer than brothers and sisters usually were. But Winnie didnt talk about her brothers private life, not even to Keely.

There hadnt been a day since she was thirteen when Keely hadnt loved Boone Sinclair. She watched him from a distance, her green eyes soft and covetous. Her hands would shake when she happened on him unexpectedly. They were shaking now. He was standing at the counter, signing in. He had an appointment for his dogs routine shots. He made one every year. He loved the old tan-and-black German shepherd, whose name was Bailey. People said it was the only thing on earth that he did love. Maybe he was fond of his siblings, but it didnt show. His affection for Bailey did.

One of the other vet techs came out with a pad and called in Bailey, with a grin at Boone. It wasnt returned. He led the old dog into one of the examination rooms. He walked right past Keely. He never looked at her. He didnt speak to her. As far as he was concerned, she was invisible.

She sighed as the door closed behind him and his dog. It was that way anyplace in town that he saw her. In fact, it was like that at his huge ranch near Comanche Wells, west of Jacobsville, Texas. He never told Winnie that she couldnt have Keely over for lunch or an occasional horseback ride. But he ignored her, just the same.

Its funny, you know, Winnie had remarked one day when they were out riding. I mean, Boone never makes any comment about you, but he does make a point of pretending he doesnt see you. I wonder why. She looked at Keely then, with her dark eyes mischievous in their frame of blond hair. You wouldnt know, I guess?

Keely only smiled. I havent got a clue, she said. It was the truth.

Its only you, too, her friend continued thoughtfully. Hes very polite to our brother Clarks occasional dateeven to that waitress that Clark brought home one night for dinner, and you know what a snob Boone can be. But he pretends you dont exist.

I may remind him of somebody he doesnt like, Keely replied.

There was that girl he was engaged to, Winnie said out of the blue.

Keelys heart jumped. Yes, I remember when he was engaged, she replied. It had been when she was fourteen, almost fifteen years old, just before he came back from overseas. Keelys young heart had been broken.

It was just before you came back here to live with your mom, Winnie continued as if shed read Keelys mind. In fact, it was just about the time she started drinking so much more She hesitated. Keelys mother was an alcoholic and it was a sensitive subject to her friend. Anyway, Boone was mustering out of the Army at the time. His fiance rushed to Germany where hed been taken when he was airlifted out of combat, wounded, and thenpoof. She was gone, Boone came home, and he never mentioned her name again. None of us could find out what happened.